As a gay man who had to live under the oppressive "don't ask, don't tell" (DADT) policy, I'm shocked that Hagel didn't support DADT repeal sooner. I'm also shocked that he didn't even make a public statement of support for DADT repeal. Instead, he wrote a letter to Sen. Barbara Boxer.

Putting a man with such a poor record of LGBT support in charge of the continuing implementation of the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" would be a disaster for gay and lesbian soldiers. President Obama could and should do better.